I am the daughter and granddaughter of civil rights activists. My father had a leadership role in the Midwest region of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He also was active within our voting precinct. My mother was active within the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She too was an active political volunteer. My paternal and maternal grandparents also were active in their communities, seeking better for not only Black people but all people who were underserved. Activism is in my DNA. Pointing out injustice whether it was at my university as a college student in the 1980’s or questioning authority in my job, I seek to make things better for all people.
This blog post is scheduled for January 20, 2021 at 12:00pm. This is the time when the Biden Administration begins. Full disclosure I am active within the Democratic Party, so yes I am happy to see Democratic leadership within the White House and both U.S. House and U.S. Senate. But what I am looking to most is the leadership of someone who understands what it means to govern. A U.S. President has great responsibility and during this time when our democracy has been tested, he also has the difficult job to mend our fractured nation.
The next four years of bringing our nation back together to being united is not merely up to the Biden Administration but requires me and you to be present in the process. Every citizen has a responsibility to bring unity not just for their beliefs but for the greater good. It would take a lot more than this one blog post to discuss what the greater good means. However, I will summarize it to mean respect, kindness, listening, questioning and being constructive. Democracy means that sometimes the person you support is not the winner but that doesn’t mean you get mad or deny the legitimacy of the winner.
Over the next fours years I plan to continue doing what I always do. I will be an activist and give my voice to what I believe in, which is ensuring democracy is upheld. Also being active in the Democratic process locally and within my state. I will attend council meetings, general assembly sessions, and other local meetings virtually and prayerfully soon in person. These are meetings that every citizen has a right to attend. I encourage anyone reading this to be present in the democratic process by volunteering on a campaign or for their political party of choice.
Finally, I am praying for my nation. I am looking for a humane incoming presidential administration that sees the humanity in all citizens. I know it will not be easy for dissenters to embrace the Biden Administration but it hasn’t been easy since people were first fighting for civil rights. However over time the harsh critics understood that we are better when we treat all people with fairness and humanity. Over these next four years, I desire to have a compassionate, caring, and competent U.S. President and Vice President and I believe I will have that in President Biden and Vice President Harris.
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PaisleyPerspective 